D-top and method of making the same



May 9, 1933. w. H. BERGMANN D-TOP AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Filed Feb.. 14, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l mill l I May 9, 1933. w. H. BERGMANN 1,908,305

D-TOP AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Filed Feb, 14, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 '3M/vento@ Patented May 9, 1933 UNITED "STATES PATENT OFFICE y WILLIAM H. BERGMANN, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE' AMERICAN FORK & v

HOE COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO D-TOP AND METHOD OF MAKING. THE SAME Application filed February 14, 1929. Serial No. 339,771.

E My invention relates to 'improvements in D-tops, such as are used on the handles of implements such as shovels, spades and the like, and relates particularly to an improvement over that type of D-top exemplified, for instance, in United States Letters Patent No. 1,523,506, to H. L. Bassett, patented-J anuary 20, 1925.

An object of the present invention is to provide a sheet metal D-top which contains no sharp edges, which in other constructions may disagreeably engage with the hands of the user.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved sheet metal D-to'p which may be formed of a pair of like sheet metal stampings capable of assembly'and placement on the end of the implement handle in a simple, inexpensive manner.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved D-top in which the above stated objects are satisfied and which will be sturdy and strong, resisting breakage and bending in use. Y

Another object of my invention is to provide a D-top of the above character capable of being formed from metallic blanks which may be stamped from a sheet ,of metal in such a way that very little waste metal will be left in the sheet after successive of the` stampings are blanked therefrom. 1

Another object of my invention is to provide a D-top comprising sheet metal parts which may be readily formed in a minimum of forming operations.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a D-top of any of the above characters having a stale-socket formed of opposed handle embracing parts susceptible of resilient yielding so as to compressively embrace any of a number of impl-ement ends varying slightly in size.

Another object of my invention is to provide a D-top having tubular grip supporting arms which are nearly closed throughout their lengths.

Another object of my invention is to inexpensively provide a strong, sturdy tubular D-top which presents a good appearance when placed on the end of an implement.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel method of making a D-top for implement handles.

Other objects of my invention and the invention itself will become apparent by reference to the following figures of the draw.- ings.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig.v 1 is an elevational view of a D-top embodyingv my invention. f i

Fig. 2 is a side view in elevation of the D-top of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of one of the two like complementary sheet metal parts for .the D-top of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a vertical medial sectional view taken on the line 4.-4L'of Fig. 2.

Figs. 5 and 6 are medial sectional and side elevational views of a fragment of a D-top whlch is a second embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 7 is a section taken onthe 1ine7-7 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 illustrates a sheet of metal marked i to indicate the successive stampings shea-red from the sheet. Y i

Referring now first to Fig. 8, at l I. show a sheet of metal, such as soft steel, upon which the outlines of a plurality of sheet metal stampings, indicated at 2, are successively cut.

It is to be noted that the different stampings are all alike and comprise a pair of like Y wings 3 divergent from a' common stem 4. The stem 4 for each succesive stamping, is taken from the metal lying within the wings 3 and the ends of the wings are taken from the metal disposed closely adjacent to the lateral portions of the stem metal for the next succeeding stamping and underlying, as shown, the arms thereof.

It will be seen from the drawings, there-V fore, that a relatively small partof the metal of the sheet is left over and therefore largely representing waste from the stamping of suc,- cessive parts 2 from a strip of sheet metal.: 1

One of the objects of the invention,l as previously mentioned, is that of economy of manufacture and this is largely accomplished by the economy in the amount ofV material representing waste during the stamping process.

A second economy is then effected by a reduction in the number of operations required to be taken to 'give the stamping 2 its ultimate form, as illustrated in Fig. 3.

This is accomplished by suitably design* ing the like parts 3, of which two are required for each D-top handle, so that it may beformed from the blank in a single press operation. The part 2 is pressed into the form of a divided channel of which the stem 4 is given the form of a slightly incomplet-e semi-cylinder, to form half of a handle stalesocket, and the wings 3 are given the form of Fa narrow substantially Ushaped channel, each to form one-'half of a iattened tubular grip supporting D-top arm. 'Y Two longitudinally aligned perforations 5 are formed simultaneously in the stem with the forming during the single pressing operation above referred to.

These channel arm portions are indicated at3 in the drawings and Fig. 2 illustrated in side elevation two like parts,each formed from'afstamping 2, which maybe placed together so that the stale-socket halves 4'Vmay ernbracetheendY of an implement handle 6, which may .project upwardly to the end of the stale-socket, as defined by the inturnedflange or web 7, which unites the arms or wings 3, and with its complementary part 7 of the other 'stamping forms the end wall ofthe stale-socket.V

It will be. noted in Fig. 2-that the wings 3 of the stamping contain a slightly offset portionshown at 8, and it'will be noted that this formation enables the two complementary formed stampings, to be fitted together so that their outer edges 9 iit closely together from the ends 10 of the arms'to the point 8, butpermit portions of the sta1nping`beyond the point 8 toward and including a portion of the arms andthe stale-socket portions to have their adjacent edges disposed in slightly spaced relation so asto make a visible seam between the edges. This for a purpose later herein' explained.

The arms retain their channel form only to afpoint 12' near their ends, and there, in 'order' to provide for the reception of the ends 14 'of the wood grip 13, one side of the channel is-cuty away on a line 15 and the' arm is continued to itsl end 10, as an extension of the lateral edge 9 of the channel in the form of a strip 16.

The rounded side edges of the strip 16 are folded inwardly and together with the edge v15, formed by cutting the Vother wall vof the channel, provides-afshallow socket or grip receiving cap 17. n l 1' The ends 14 of the grip are preferably reduced in Vdiameter relative to the body portion, and the inturned portions of the cap 17 'fit' over the reduced grip ends and their edges abuttingly engage the shoulders thereby formed on the body portion.

Prior to kplacement of the D-top on implement handles such as 6, the two complementary parts forming the tubular handle, as illustrated, are rigidly lsecured together and made integral, one with the other, by welding the edges of the D-top together at points such as indicated by ms at 18 on the line of junctionof thev two complementary parts, at their outersurfacesnear the ends of the arms 3 and preferably on the two sides of the bolt receiving 'opening 19, which is provided by lsuitably notching the blanks 2, as shown at 20. l

The bolt 21 isprojected throughv the aligned openings '19 of the 'arm extensions 16 and draws thefree ends of the arms inwardly to effect a tight grip by the recessed caps 17, the bolt being projected through the usual longitudinal bore of the. grip. The end 6 of an implement handle is bored transversely in spaced portions to permit bolts or rivets 22 to be projected through the perforations 5 of the stale-socket halves and the transverse holes through thehandle end.

The bolts or rivets'22 draw the two stalesocket halves toward each other to bring the opposing lateral edges ofthe stamping halves disposed below the point 8, more closely together to tightly compress the halves against the handle end. Y

The method of manufacture above outlined may be partiallyperformed in a metal-working factory through the welding operation above described,I andthe joined D-top halves as an integral structure may then be supplied to thewood-workers whov willv apply the grip 13 and implement handle 6.

In Figs. 5 and 6, I show another embodil ment of my invention comprising a modication in the form of the ends of the arms 3, the D-top being oth-erwise formed as above described. In the second embodiment as illustrated, instead of cutting away the inner channel along the line 15 as above described, the handle is continuedin its tubular form to its endl() `and then a subsequent forming operation is laccomplished.upon the free ends y of the arms to flatten the channel in the portion 24 so that the'two channel walls of both D-top halves are flattened into surface contact, as shown at 24, and in this embodiment the bolt receiving perforation 19 is preferably accomplished subsequent to or simulta- L neously with the channel iiattening'operation.

In this embodiment, as in the previous embodiment, the grip 'supporting tip portions of thearms are enlarged and of rounded outline on their exterior edges so as to conform with thev rounded outline yof the ends ofthe grip 13. Y

It will beseen that the handle is tubular throughout, Vis very rigid, being reenforced by its tubular form in all parts, and resists bending and breaking stresses which `occur incidental to the use of the D-top.

Having thus described my invention in two embodiments, I am aware that numerous and extensive departures may be made from the embodiments herein illustrated and described but without departing from the spirit of my invention.

l claim:

l. A D-top for implement handles, comprising a substantially Y-shaped grip supporting element formed of two sheet metal stampings comprising D-top halves and of tubular `term throughout, comprising a stalesocket and integrally joined grip supporting arms, the division being defined by separated lateral opposing e lges of the two halves provid-ed by offset edge portions of the sheet metal stamping, which extend throughout the entire length of the stale-socket to permit bodily inward movement of the stale-socket halves when these are bolted against opposite sides of an implement handle end, said halves being integrally welded together along their contiguous lateral edges adjacent their grip supporting arm ends.

2. A D-top for implement handles, comprising a substantially Y-shaped grip supporting element formed of two sheet metal stampings comprising D-top halves and of tubular form throughout, comprisinga stalesocket and integrally joined grip supporting arms, the division being defined by separated lateral opposing edges ot the two halves provided by otlset edge portions of the sheet metal stamping, which extend throughout the entire length of the stale-socket to permit bodily inward movement of the stale-socket halves when these are 'bolted against opposite sides of an implement handle end, said halves being integrally welded together along their contiguous lateral edges adjacent their grip supporting arm ends, said halves being initially formed as like complementary Y- shaped channels.

3. A D-top for implement handles, comprising a substantially Y-shaped grip supporting element formed of two sheet metal stampings comprising D-top halves and of tubular form throughout, comprising a stalesocket and integrally oined grip supporting arms, the division being defined by separated lateral opposing edges of the two halves provided by oset edge portions of the sheet metal stamping, which extend throughout the entire length of the stale-socket to permit bodily inward movement of the stale-socket halves when these are bolted against opposite sides of an implement handle end, said halves being integrally welded together along their contiguous lateral edges adjacent their grip supporting arm ends, said halves being initially formed as like complementary Y-shaped channels, the inner wall of each channel arm entire length of the stale-socket to permit bodily inward movement of` the stale-socket halves when these are bolted against opposite sides of an implement handle end, said halves being integrally weldedtogether along their contiguous lateral edges'adjacent their grip y supporting arm ends, said halves being initially formed as like complementary Y-shaped channels, the inner wall of each channel arm for bothhalves being cut away in grip supporting portions of the halves to admit projection of the grip ends for engagement with the outer wallsof the channels, the walls of the outerchannels having inturned edges adapted to receive the ends of an inserted grip. i l

5. A D-top for implement handles comprising a pair of sheet steel stampings of like "lf-shaped vchanneled form adapted to be placed in opposing contiguous-,like relation to each other with channel edges of the one in engagement with channel edgesofthe other and welded together along the resulting seam adjacent the grip supporting portions of the arms, the opposing edges of each channeled stamping being normally spaced prior to attachment to the end of an implement handle projectedinto the hollow stale-socket stem formed bythe joined stampings, by offset portions of said opposing edges; Y

6. The method of forming a D-top implement handle which includes` stampings from flat sheet metal, a pair of blanks of like Y-shaped form, the lateral outer edges of the Y branches thereof extending inwardly from the ends of the branches in ysubstantially parallel relation to a point remote from said ends and beyond said point being inwardlyoifset, bending the blanks into Y-shaped like channel form, placing the channel form stampings in opposing contiguous relation to each other with the channeled edges of the one confronting the channeled edges of the other, the said parallel edges of the blanks constituting engaging confronting edges of the channel stamp-ings and the oiiset edges of the blanks constituting spaced confronting edges of the channel stampings, welding the channel stampings together j along said contacting edges. AsY an articleof manufacture, a blank adapted ,to be used in identical pairs for formirig'a- Dlto'p handle', the blank being generally of 'flat sheet inetal Y-shaped form, the lateral outer edges of the Y branches thereof extendinginw'ardly from theends of the branches in 'substantially parallel relation to a point remote' from saidl ends andbeyond said point being inwardly offset.

8. As' anarticle of manufacture, a blank adapted to beused in identical pairs to form D-top handles, the blank being generally of flat'Y sheet metalv Y-shaped form, and the Y-forin blank having its lateral outer edges lprovidedwith inwardly offset portions beginnin'g, at points lbelow the vfree ends of the Y branches and continuing to the lower end of the blank. v.

y 9. As an article'of manufacture, a blank adapted to beused in identical pairs to form D-top handles, the Vblank being generally of flat sheet metal Y-shape form and a lateral outer edge of the blank comprisingan inward'l'yV offset portion beginning at a point below the upper free end of the correspond# ing Ybranch and continuing to the lower end of the blank. y I

l0. 'As'an article of manufacture, a blank a'daptedto'be used in identical pairs for forming Dlt'op handles,the blank being generally of flat sheet metal Y-shaped form, the lateral outerfedgesof lthe Y branchesextending inwardly from the free ends of the branches in substantially parallel relation to a point remote from said ends, and beyond said point a lateral outer edge being inwardly offset.

l1. As an article of manufacture, a Y-form sheet metal blank bent into Y-channel form and 'adapted to be usedin pairs in D-tophandles,f the lateral outer edges lof the Y-form blank comprising inwardly offsetV portions beginningv at points below the outer free ends of the Y branches and continuing to the lower end of the blank, the offset portions being of such extent and disposition that when a channeled 'pairof blanks are` disposed with their edges eor`1fronted`,'the edge portions notoffset may be welded together and thev offset portionswill be spaced apart.

12v. As an article of manufacture, a Y-form sheet metal 'blank bent into Yv-channel form and` 'adapted' to be used in pairs inD-top handles, a lateral outer edgefof the Y-form blank comprising; an inwardly offset portion beginning at a point below'the upper free end of the Y branch and continuing to thelower end of the blank', the said'offset portion. being of such extent andv disposition that when a channeled 'pair of Ythe blanks are disposed with their' edges confronted, the offset edgeportions maybe spaced apartfroin their opposite vconfronted edge portions, andthe other portions ofthe edgesmay be welded together.

.Y In testimonyV whereof I hereunto afimy signature this 11th day of February, 1929. 'l

' VVILLIM H. BERGMANN. 

